Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI99M’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI99M’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading to semi-trailing growth habit; numerous yellow-colored flowers with purple-colored flecking and venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI99M’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCALI99M’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI99’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,679. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant from within a population of plants of ‘USCALI99’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carlton, Mich. on June 20, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carlton, Mich. since Jun. 20, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI99M’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCALI99M’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading to semi-trailing         growth habit.     -   2. Numerous yellow-colored flowers with purple-colored flecking         and venation.     -   3. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘USCALI99’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI99’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCALI99’ have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of ‘Caltrablupu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,930. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of ‘Caltrablupu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as trailing as plants         of ‘Caltrablupu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Caltrablupu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Caltrablupu’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Caltrablupu’ have dark purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCALI99M’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘USCALI99M’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 13° C. to 24° C. Rooted young plants had been growing for ten weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI99M’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Calibrachoa sp.     ‘USCALI99’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,679. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading to semi-trailing plant habit. Freely branching             habit with about seven to eight primary lateral branches             each with multiple secondary lateral branches; pinching             enhances branching; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 64 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 34 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to             semi-trailing.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 145A; towards the base, close to 197A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 26 to 27 open flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch. Flowers face upright to mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four to six weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously from April to September             in Southern California; flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about three to             four days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm by 3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 11C tinted with close             to N77D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Mucronate to cuspidate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Scattered             pubescence. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 11D; venation, close to 183D. Petal, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 11D; venation, close to 185C. Petal, fully             opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to 16C; random             flecking, close to N79B to N79C; venation, close to N79A.             Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N79D; venation,             close to 79A. Throat: Close to 11A to 11B; venation, close             to N79B. Tube: Close to 11B; random flecking, close to N79C;             venation, close to 79A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.4 cm. Sepal             width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             five per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 11A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 7A. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About             9 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape: Rounded,             flattened. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close             to 145C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI99M’ as illustrated and described. 